Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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640. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date when the Dog Control Statistics for 2024 will be published. [56725/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities are published annually on Gov.ie. Information up to and including 2023 is available on the the dog control statistics page www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/collections/dog-control-statistics/.

The 2024 dog control statistics report is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to have it published in the immediate term.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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641. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the Dog Control Stakeholder Group, the sub groups which have been, or are in the process, of being set up; the membership of any such sub-groups; if terms of reference will be put in place for any such sub-groups; if so, if they will be made publicly available; if the minutes of any such sub-group meetings will be made publicly available; if any members of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group or any of its sub-groups are being paid for their roles; if there is any overlap with the work of the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare; and the way in which this is being dealt with in practice. [56726/25]

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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642. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare if he will confirm if any members of the council or any of its sub-groups are being paid for their roles; if there is any overlap with the work of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group; and, if so, the way this is being dealt with in practice. [56727/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 together.

From 1 June 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Act transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. This was followed by policy and legislative responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act on 1 August 2025.

In March 2024, the then Minister for Rural and Community Development established the Dog Control Stakeholder Group to review the Control of Dogs Act and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The stakeholder group comprises members with a broad range of expertise including academics, veterinary surgeons, local authorities, farming interests, charities working in the field and animal welfare experts.

Three sub-groups of the stakeholder group were established to focus on specific areas relating to dog control and welfare, namely Dog Breeding Establishments; Training and Education; and Traceability & Neutering. The sub-groups work with the main stakeholder group and will recommend areas of improvement in the dog control and welfare environment.

The membership of the three sub-groups is laid out in the attached document. While terms of reference were established for each of the sub-groups, it is not intended to publish these or any of the minutes of the sub-group meetings. The sub-groups report to the Chairperson of the main stakeholder group at its regular meetings and the minutes of these meetings are published on my Department's website at www.gov.ie

I can confirm that none of the members of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group receive any compensation for their participation. The only member of the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare (ACCAW) to receive any payment is the independent chairperson.

While there is no overlap between the work of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group and the ACCAW, there are members common to both. ACCAW members are updated in relation to any developments regarding the control of dogs. When the Dog Control Stakeholder Group submits its recommendations to me, matters therein pertaining to the welfare of dogs may, if necessary, be referred to the ACCAW for consideration.

The work of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group is complex in nature, requiring full consideration of all aspects of the relevant legislation. I look forward to the group completing its work and I will consider its recommendations upon receipt of its report.

Dog Breeding Establishments Sub-Group Members